Science in Action—How to Follow Scientists and Engineers in Society

Author: Bruno Latour (French), translated by Liu Wenxuan and Zheng Kai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Bruno Latour, one of the leading figures in the sociology of scientific knowledge and a representative of the Paris School, is the author of this book. In this work, Latour attempts to uncover how science actually "works." With the aim of reinterpreting scientific practice and its relationship with society, the book provides a detailed description of the methods and rules used by scientists, drawing on anecdotes, case studies, and practical examples from different stages and disciplines of scientific development. To bridge the division previously created between the natural and the social, and to foster a new unity, the book gives a crucial role to non-human factors. It can be read as both a general introductory text on the socio-cultural study of science and a typical example of research practice.